It sounds like the year it was written, full stop. I think it's unrealistic for anyone to expect things to be the same between Bobbie Irvine's time and now. She trained Marcus Hilton, for goodness sake! Things are not even the same between HIS time and now.

It sounds like the year it was written, full stop. I think it's unrealistic for anyone to expect things to be the same between Bobbie Irvine's time and now. She trained Marcus Hilton, for goodness sake! Things are not even the same between HIS time and now.

Click to expand...

I understand that. However I was responding to the question, "still relevant?" Some yes, some no.

Those tenets seem evenly split between notions that have changed and things that will always hold true. The passive connotations of some of these ("to follow, not to lead," "to be seen, not felt") aside from being patently antiquated seem counterintuitive -- I want to feel where my follower is, and I'm not just dragging her along for a ride -- she's responding to the suggestions I make with my frame and my center of gravity. Other things seem perfectly fine and indeed advisable: to be active and not activated, to move and not to move away.

It is not that different than what I am being taught today. I think some of them have changed a little, but as a student of dance, I feel most of the ideas are still relevant. The second one is kind of lost on me, and the third one I would question these days, but the rest all have merit in at least some examination, and expanding.

passive connotations of some of these ("to follow, not to lead," "to be seen, not felt") aside from being patently antiquated seem counterintuitive

Click to expand...

I don't think the implication of "to follow, not to lead" is "to be passive." It is simply the task of determining what will be danced. Just because your routine has a double reverse turn next, doesn't mean the lady should just dive into it, because the lead perhaps sees a better opportunity for an open telemark to extend a line. The advice is not counterintuitive, perhaps it is a bit trivial. Later on she talks about activity, so that's covered elsewhere.

"to be seen, not felt" is the one I don't really get, I'm not sure what the thought is behind that one.

This is an intesting one, because I think it is in the eye of the beholder.

Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. Some students need the opposite advice. But someone with dance background may be more inclined to show off, which can create a disconnect from their partner, and perhaps the advice is sound, to reign in this tendency.

Steve Pastor, I noticed that too. Actually, I'm not at all sure what she meant by "to be seen and not felt".

Click to expand...

Sounds like an apt description for a porcupine. I'm not quite sure how that relates to dance though. Maybe if your movement is so visually unappealing that the audience feels like they're being stabbed, it's probably not a good thing.

It feels a bit contrived, but then such lists always do! You get the feeling some things are in there just to make the number up to ten. Having said that, I think that the emphasis has changed in some areas, and some things we wouldn't describe the same way these days. It does all sound a bit passive, although I'm not at all sure that's what she meant. I don't think that the underlying principles have changed though.